In Jain Dharma, all souls are fundamentally the same in nature, but they appear different because of their different karmic bondage.

Why souls seem different

A soul becomes different in experience and condition due to:

• Different karmas attached to it
• Different levels of knowledge, faith, conduct, and energy being covered by karma
• Different forms of birth and body
• Different stages of spiritual development

Jain view

The soul itself is pure, conscious, and unlimited in nature. But when it is covered by karma, its qualities are hidden to different degrees. Because of this:

• one soul may be in a human body,
• another in an animal body,
• another in heavenly existence,
• another in hellish existence,
• and one may be liberated.

So, the difference is not in the soul’s essential nature, but in its state due to karma.

Simple example

Just as the same sun appears differently through clear glass, dusty glass, or colored glass, the soul also appears different because of karmic coverings.

Main teaching

In Jainism, souls are infinite in number, and each soul is unique in its karmic history, but equal in inherent purity and potential.

That is why there are different souls in experience, though the true nature of all souls is the same.